Control mechanism for absorption type refrigerators



Jan. 9, 13551 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 9, 1951 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 @J M @J T 1 Jan. 9, 1951 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475

CQN'IROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 5 mq 3 A .ATTOF/YA'V Jan. 9, 1951 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ti E. F-

Jam 9, 1951 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475 I CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet e INVE TOR. fi

A rQTTO/P/VrEV Jan. 9, 1951 J. G. MEJEAN 2,537,475

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Filed April 22, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 .numl I (Mm WINVENTOR.

T 1 WM Patented Jan. 9, 19.51

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION TYPE REFRIGERATORS Jacques G. Mejean, Greenwich, Conn, assignor to The Aerotec Corporation, Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 22, 1949, Serial No. 89,094

(Cl. G2-5) 21 Claims.

My present invention relates to control mechanism for absorption type refrigerators.

In refrigerators of this type an aqueous solution of ammonia is heated during one cycle to drive the ammonia gas out of solution and into an evaporator in which it is condensed under pressure. In a succeeding cycle the generator is not heated and, as it cools, absorbs the ammonia vapors which then evaporate from the evaporator to produce a low temperature therein.

Normall the heating cycle is shorter than the evaporating cycle. The amount of cooling during the evaporating cycles depends upon the length of the heating or generating cycles, being greater the greater the length of the generating cycle and accordingly the amount of liquified ammonia in the evaporator. When a greater cooling effect is required, as for example, when the surrounding atmosphere is at a higher temperature, it is therefore necessary to lengthen the heating or generating cycle.

The aqueous solution of ammonia may be heated by any suitable fuel, as, for example, by gas or liquid fuels, which may be quickly supplied and ignited at the start of the cycle and promptly extinguished at the end thereof.

'When liquid fuels, such as kerosene, are used, precaution must be taken to maintain a substantially constant supply during the heating period, to provide for a pilot light during the evaporating period or cycle, and to guard against overflow of the fuel because of failure of any control parts. f

My present invention provides a simple and effective apparatus by which the timing of the cycles is controlled within limits by the tem-' perature in the evaporator and in which thelength of the heating period may also be controlled by the temperature of the atmosphere in which the apparatus is used. -It also provlides apparatus by which liquid fuel maybe supplied and a pilot light maintained throughoutthe respective cycles without danger of over-. flow. or loss of the liquid fuel.

,In vthefapparatus of my invention the fuel control valve is controlled by a spring actuated mechanism movable past a position of dead center in one direction to close, and in the opposite direction to open or release, the valve. This springactuated means may be of any suitable construction. An example is a spring so tensioned or confined between a valve moving lever and an operating lever that when the operating lever tilts from one position to the other it compresses or tensions the spring until it reaches I a limiting position in either direction and themeacts to operate the valve moving lever with a toggle action. For this purpose a coil spring may be confined between one arm of a valve leverand an arm of an operating lever which swings past the arm of the valve lever to fixed stops.

The valve actuating mechanism is moved-to valve release position by an expansible member, preferably a fluid expansible member, such as a bellows, connected to a bulb in the evaporator and containing a quantity of a volatile fluid, such as methyl chloride, to completely volatilize and expand the bellows at a temperature at, or. above which the-valve is to open, for example at about 27 F. A further rise in temperature, for example to 140 F., causes only a slight further increase in pressure. The expansion of the. bellows moves the valve operating mechanism to, release position through a suitable transmission. This transmission may comprise an arm moved by a Stern on thefree endof the. bellows and acting on the operating lever to move it past dead center to release position. This starts the generating cycle.

As the valve actuating lever moves to valve" release position, it also releases a clock whichunwinds during. the evaporating cycle and at the end of this cycle reverses the valve mechanism to close the valve. The clock is of a mechanically. wound, self starting, type, such as is used in parking meters. As it unwinds, its winding stem rotates and, at the end of an interval corresponding to the evaporating cycle, engages the operat;-' ing lever through a suitable transmi sion and I moves it to closing position, thereby terminating the generating cycle.

The length of the generating cycle may be varied to correspond with changes in the "atmospheric temperature. For this purpose the transmission from clock to valve actuating mech--- anism comprises an element sensitive'to atmos-x pheric temperatures, which varies the effective distance between the clock actuated part of the transmission and the part that it engages to move the valve mechanism. The temperaturesensitive element may comprise any suitabletype which moves or distorts with changes of? temperature to change the position of one .part of the transmission relative to the other. 'A. suitable example is a bi-metallic strip attachedto one part, as the clock operated part, and a" series of spaced notches on a part of the operat-' ing lever of the valve mechanism one of Iwhic-h notches is engaged by the free end of the strip in different positions of deflection, the notches 3 being spaced so as to be engaged at difierent positions of the clock mechanism.

The clock is wound during the evaporating cycle by a spring through a transmission which rotates the winding stem of the clock in winding direction to a fixed point and then slips free. The clock then remains wound until released to start the evaporation cycle. The clock winding spring is tensioned by the bellows during its expansion and, during the contraction of the bellows, is released to actuate the clock windin mechanism.

The valve mechanism may control the supply of either liquid or gaseous fuel. In controlling the supply of liquid fuel, it closes an inlet valve to a float chamber or releases it to the control of a float in the chamber, from which it is supplied to a wick or other type of burner for the generator. A constant level is maintained in the supply float chamber so as to provide a re ular or uniform flow of fuel to the burner. An overflow chamber is provided to store a quantity of liquid fuel for a pilot light to which it is slowly supplied through a suitable duct, the size of this overflow chamber being amply sufficient to supply the pilot light throughout the evaporating cycle. A safety float is also provided, preferably in this overflow chamber, which releases a spring closure of the inlet valve in the event that the fuel level rises beyond a safe limit.

The various features of the invention are illustrated, by of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan of a constant level float chamber embodying elements of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the chamber taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation of the float chamher and controlling mechanism, with the cover of the control mechanism removed and certain parts broken away to show certain elements more clearly,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5' is a side view of the: apparatus taken from the right of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6' is a detail elevation, on a larger scale, of the timing mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a section. on line 1-4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. .8 is an elevation; Fig. 9 a plan, and Fig. 10 a side view from the right of Fig. 8 of a modified form. of embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown as attached to a base wall, and the cover being removed.

Fuel feed mechanism Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a float chamber H! is provided with. an inlet opening I l delivering to a strainer compartment l2 and into the interior of a cylindrical strainer or filter [3 which is sealed between the inlet It and a removable plug M screwed into the end of the strainer- The strainer removes particles of dirt that may be entrained in the fuel and is to be periodically removed and cleaned by removing the plug it.

After passing through the strainer I3 the fuel enters the inlet port !5 of a float chamber 23. A vertically reciprocating valve I1 is provided to seat on a valve seat i8 and is normally opened by a spring 19 confined between the upper end of the valve chamber It and an adjustable nut or stop 20 on the stem 2i of the valve ll. Fuel passing upwardly through the valve seat i8 is admitted through side passages 22 to the float chamber 23 containing a control float 24'.

The float 24 is mounted on a lever arm 25 pivoted at 26, the other arm of the lever bearing downwardly 0n the nut 28 so as to close the valve when the float 24 rises to a predetermined level. Fuel flows from float chamber 23 through an outlet passage 21, 1, leading to the generator burner.

The float chamber 23 is contained in or adjacent to a reserve chamber 28 into which the fuel may overflow over a weir 29 in a wall 32! separating the two chambers. The reserve chamber 28 is of a size to contain sufficient fuel for the pilot light during the evaporating cycle and this fuel is supplied during the evaporating cycle through any suitable port or duct, not shown. At the end of the evaporating cycle and when the chamber 23 is filled to its normal level the reserve chamber 28 is refilled.

Normally the float 25 will close the valve H whenever the fuel rises to the predetermined upper limit. In the event of failure of the valve I? to be closed by the float 25, the fuel is prevented from overflowing the float chamber by means of a safety float 3| having an arm 32 pivoted at 33 to the side of the float chamber and notched as at 34 to receive the end of a lever 35 when the float is at the normal level but to release the lever when the fuel rises above the limit or tends to overflow the float chamber.

The lever 35 is pivoted on a pin 33 in ears 3'! on the sides of the chamber 23 and extends to a position above the nut 20 of the valve H. The lever is provided with an opening 38 near its latched end and at the end of the opening farthest from the latched end is provided with a pointed projection 39. Between the projection 39 and a pointed support 40 on the wall of the reserve chamber 28 near the arm 23 is a spring 4! confined between end plates 52 and 43 which are notched to receive the engaging points 39 and 4'0.

The spring 4! is normally compressed when the lever 35 is engaged by the float latch. When-theend of the lever is released, however, the spring extends upwardly under pressure. This pressure is multiplied at the opposite end of the lever and exerted downwardly on the valve l? to close it.

Cycle control The float chamber I6 is mounted in the lower or bottom part of a casing or housing 5.4, in the upper part of which is mounted the control mechanism. This control mechanism comprises a clock 45 for timing the heating cycle and a bellows it which is secured at one end to the casing and is connected by suitable tubing to a bulb in the evaporator.

The clock 45 of the embodiment shown has a winding stem 41! which rotates at the rate of one complete revolution in twelve hours and, as the clock unwinds, therefore moves through an arc of 75 in 2 /2 hours, which is the normal maximum of the heating or" generating cycle. The direction of winding is clockwise. At the end of the heating or generatin cycle the clock is wound by a spring 48 adjacent to the bellows which is later released. At the end of the evapcrating cycle the clock is started and unwinds during the next heating or generating cycle. During the period when the clock is being wound the stem 21 of the fuelcontrol valve is depressed to hold the valve closed. When the clock is started the valve stem 2f is also released Clock winding mechanism The clock winding mechanism is shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 6 as it is being wound by the spring 48 through a transmission. This transmission comprises a lever 49, Figs. 3 and 4, pivoted on a pin 58 on the wall of the casing and having an opening 5| through which one end of the spring 48 is hooked, the other end of the spring being secured to the casing. The lever 49, which i also under the control of the bellows 46, extends through a slot 52 in a stem 53 secured to the free end of the bellows and thence beneath the sprin 48 and terminates below a pin 54 secured in, and spanning a pair of spaced plates 55, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, which are also secured near their ends, by pins 56 and 51 to form, in effect, a sliding rod. The plates are pivotally secured by a pin 58 on a plate 59 which is pivotally supported on a stud 68 'jon the casing and extends between the plates '55. The plate 59 has an openin 6| notched at 62 to receive the free end of a crank arm 63 fixed i on the clock winding stem 41 which is, for this purpose, squared. The relation of the plate 59 to the clock and to the plates 55 is such that, as the spring 48, acting through the lever 49, moves the plates 55 upwardly, they, in turn, rotate the plate 59 as a crank arm and the arm 63 clockwise to wind the clock.

At a definite point in the upward movement of the lever 49, its tip slips free of the pin'54, thereby limiting the winding of theclock and avoiding overwinding. -For this purpose the plates 55 are pressed by a tension spring 64, secured at one end to the pin 51 and at the other to a pin 65 on the plate 59against a stop screw 68 threaded on a bracket 61 secured to 1 the casing 44. 'As the lever 49 and plate swing upwardly about their respective pivots, a point is reached at which the tip of the .lever slips from beneath the pin 54 and the rewinding ceases. The point at which this occurs may be adjusted by adjusting the stop screw 66 to tilt the plates 55 about the pivot pin 58-toward or from the lever. During the rotation of the plate 59 in the opposite direction the plates 55 will slide on the stop screw 66 and rock slightly thereon as .a pivot. After the clock has been wound it awaits the end of the evaporation cycle before starting to unwind.

Fuel valve release At the end of the evaporation cycle the tem-' perature in the evaporator rises to a pointgenerally about 27 F.-at which the methyl chloride vapor expands the bellows 48 thereby moving the free end of the bellows and the stem 53 downwardly. This downward movement is expansion of the bellow compresses the spring to a pressure equalling the tension of the spring 48, further expansion depresses the lever 49, which then tilts downwardly below the pin 54. The plates 55 may rock slightly to permit the tip of the lever to pass, the lower edge of the tip of the lever being inclined as at 13 to act as a cam against the pin 54 to displace the latter for this purpose.

As the stem 53 moves downwardly, it also tilts downwardly a trip arm 14 which pivots on a stud 15 on the casing, extends through the slot 52, and is pinned to the stem 53 by a cross pin 15. In its downward movement the arm 14 engages the end of a vertical leaf spring 15 extending upwardly from a horizontal operating lever 11 of the valve actuating mechanism andtilts it counterclockwiseabout a stud 18 on the casing. This tilting of the lever 11 acts to release the valve stem 2| and also starts the clock. Immediately above the lever 11 is a bracket 19 having a guide opening through which passes a reduced extension 88 of the bellows stem.

The other member of the spring actuated toggle comprises a short valve lever 8| pivoted on a horizontal stud 82. One arm 83 of this lever extends over the upper end of the valve stem 2| to depress it and close the valve l1 when tilted clockwise. The'other arm 84 terminates a short distance from the end of the lever 11. In the space between the opposed ends of the levers a spring 85 is confined between a plate 86 pivoted on the end of thelever 11 anda plate 81 pivoted on the end of the lever arm 84.

In the position of the levers shown in Fig. 3, the end of the lever 11 is below the end of the lever arm 84 and the spring 85 tilts upwardly and, being compressed, acts to tilt the lever 8| clockwise and depress the valve stem 2|. The levers remain in this position, holding the valve |1 closed, until the expansion of the bellows 46 at the end of the evaporating cycle lowers the stem 53 and tilts the lever 14 downwardly until it meets the upper edge of the spring extension 16 and tilts the lever 11 counter clockwise. As the opposite end of lever 11 rises above the level of the opposed end of the lever arm 84, the spring 85 tilts downwardly and reacts upwardly against the lever 11 to tilt it counter clockwise until a stud 88, mounted on the casing, stops a loop 89 mounted on the lever. The spring 85 then reacts downwardly on the end of the lever arm 84 and tilts the lever 8| counter clockwise until an adjustable stud 98 on the arm 83 is brought against'the frame of the clock... The arm 83 is thereupon lifted from the stem 2|, releasing the valve l1.

The valve I1 is thereupon under the control of the float 24 to maintain a constant supply of fuel to the burner of the generator during the generating cycle.

Clock starting mechanism During the evaporating cycle, the clock is kept from unwinding by means of a lever 9| pivoted on a horizontal stud 92 on the frame of the clock 45 and weighted to tilt against and hold the balance wheel 93 of the clock. When the arm 83 of the lever 8| is tilted upwardly at the end of the evaporating cycle by the expansion of the bellows 46 acting through the stem 53, levers 14, and" and spring 85, it presses upwardly on a screw stud 94, Figs. 3, 5 and 7, on the lever 14 9|, tilting the latter from contact with the bal once wheel 93 and permitting the latter to am- As theclociz unwinds it rotates the arm 63 and the pivoted plate '53 counterclockwise. When the plate 59 has rotated through a predetermined angle, its lower edge makes contact with, and then depresses, an adjustable .stop '95 on a .lever 96 pivoted on a pin :91 and :having an upwardly extending arm 98. The lever 96 is normally Snelfi against the stop '90 by :a spring Il-ll'fl tensioned hetioned to engage one of :a number :of stepped notches on a bracket W3 secured on the end of the lever H and thereby to rotate its end hi the lever helowthe .end of the levers-rm B4. Thereupon the position of the spring 5 reversed and the lever 18% rotates clockwise. depressing the valve stem 2 and permittingthe lever 391 to stop the clock. This terminates the heating zcycle. The stepped notches oi the bracket 403 are so positioned "as to :be engaged earlier .as the strip bends outwardly and accordingly as the temper-. ature of the atmosphere is lower and, reversely, at :a later point as the atmospheric temperature increases.

During the evaporation cycle the hollows 45 contracts, drawing thelevers .H and J4 upwardly, the spring bending to permit the end of. the lever 14 to rise, and permitting the spring '48 to rewind the "clock. The cycles may then re: peat.

The plate 59 has an arm lM bent to extend through an opening in the cover of the case whereby the plate may be rotated and the clock wound to start the apparatus.

While the apparatus has been described as applied to a liquid fuel fired generator it may he used with gaseous .fuel in which case the lever arm 83 may "operate a gas valve.

Rsum

plate lever $59 is moved in a clockwise direction, rotating the plate lever 59 clockwise. This rotates the 3 to wind the clock and lifts the edge of the plate :from the stud 59 5 on lever 96. The bellows 4'6, being at ordinary atmospheric temperature, expands. This has twp effects: to lower the lever 49 through the spring 68., the tip of the lever displacing and. sliding beneath the pin {24, and to tilt the operating lever 14 of the valve control until it engages the upper edge of the leaf spring 15 and depresses tilting-the lever 1'! counter clockwise until its opposite arm rises above the :opposed end of the valve actuating lever arm 34. The spring 85, which has been com-pressed, reacts upwardly against the lever l-l, rocking it until stopped by the pin and loop 88 and moving the leaf spring-l6 away from the lever 14. The spring 85 then reacts downwardly on the lever arm #84, rotating the lever 8| counter clockwise. The opposite arm 83 is thereupon lifted from the valve stem 21., releasing or opening the valve H or an equivalent gas control valve. The lifting of arm 83, acting 82 from the balance wheel 9.3, releasing the clock. 'sheatmg :cyole now vloegins. .As the clock unwiinds, it rotates the plate lever 55 counterclockwise until :its lower edge rests on and then'lowers the stud $95 on the lever 85 and rocks this. lever counter clockwise. The .bi-metallic strip L82 on the vertical extension .98 :of the lever 96 is thereby lowered to engage one of the notches of the bracket 103 of the lever TI and rotate this lever clockwise until the end .ofits right arm is below the level of the arm 8 The position of spring -85 is now reversed, throwing the lever 11 in the opposite direction against the stop 88 and then pushing the lever arm 34 upwardly. The arm 83 then pushes downwardly on the valve stem .21., closing the valve H and releasing the weighted lever 94 to stop the clock. The heating cycle is now terminated.

The bellows 45 now contracts as the evaporater pools, drawing the stem 53 upwardly. This lifts the :arm 14., which displaces, and moves past, the lea-f spring 16. it also releases lever 419 which is thereupon draw-n upwardly by the spring 48. The lever 49 engages the pin 52, lifting tht sliding plates or rods 55 and pin 5.8; which in turn, rotates the plate lever 5% clock wise to wind the clock. .At the end of the reva po rating cycle the hollows .45 expands andthe cycles repeat.

It will be apparent that-the form and positions of the various elementsme plate lever, the. plates rod 55, the thermo expansible element on and the valve actuating elements 11-99,, for example-emery he altered or changed within the. scope of the invention and that the forms shown are merely by way of example.

Modification of Figs. 8., .9 and 1-0 *In this modification the arrangement of the control mechanism relative to the fuel shutoff and release -device l El may be substan'tially sirn'i lar to that of the above described embodiment; the fuel s'hut ofi mechanism being mounted on the lower part of a'bas'e or support lo l, the -control mechanism helm; also mounted on this base above the fuel shut-oil mechanism.

A clock mechanism m5, Figs. '9 and ll), is mounted directly on the base 14. Immediately in. front of the clock mechanism isa supporting plate iilB mounted .on the "base 'IM and spaced therefrom by posts 'lll'l and 19B.

. The clock mechanism is provided with a stem 1:59. projecting through the plate MB and having a winding arm 116 above the plate. The free end of the winding arm carries a pin Ill projecting llorwar-dly from the arm J-ID, Figs. 43 and 9.

Mounted on the base I04 by means of a suitable bracket H2 is an expans'ible bellows H3 which-expands at the end of the cooling cycle to permit the evaporating cycle to begin. This hellows contracts during the cooling cycle and releases a spring to wind the clock mechanism.

During the expansion of the bellows H3 it moves upwardly a stem 1 M guided in a bracket N55 to tilt upwardly an actuating lever .i it pivoted on a pin Ell? :on the base 4-04. The :op pom'te end of the lever is connected to :a :coil spring 1 I8, the other end of which is fixed on fahracket 1 L9 mounted on the base 104.

As the bellows expands and tilts the lever fl Hi upwardly it stretches and puts under tension the spring =1 18. During this period the clock mech through stud 94a1so lifts the weighted :lever 91V anismis released and the winding :arm it?) per-- 9 mitted to unwind in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 8.

When the bellows I I3 contracts the tension of the spring IIB pulls the lever II6 downwardly. A leaf spring I mounted on the lever H6 by means of pins IZI and I22 thereupon engages the pin III on the clock winding arm III! and moves this arm in a clockwise direction thereby winding the clock. The spring I20 moves downwardly until it engages a stop I23 on a flange I24 extending outwardly from the plate I66. The flange is provided with a slot I25 through which the lever arm II 6 extends. The arm. I I6 may continue downwardly a short distance after the spring engages the stop I23 until it reaches the bottom of the slot I25. The stop I23 thereby determines the end of the clock winding period. The clock is then held in wound condition until the bellows H3 again expands, raising the lever II6, whereupon the clock will unwind throughout the evaporating cycle.

As the clock winding arm H0 springs upwardly and reaches its uppermost position it actuate-s a mechanism to move the fuel control device to closed position thereby'terminating the evaporating cycle. For this purpose the movement of the arm is transmitted to a sliding plate'I26 which has a slot I 21 through which passes a pair of retaining studs I28 and I29 onthe plate I06 and spaced to permit a limited vertical movement of the plate I26. This plate is notched at I30 to receive the pin III of the clock winding arm I I0 so that the plate is lowered when the clock winding arm swings downwardly through the clock winding cycle and moves upwardly as the arm swings upwardly during the unwinding of the clock mechanism.

The plate I26 carries mechanism which serves to engage and rotate counterclockwise a cam plate I3I pivoted on a pin I32 on the supporting plate I66, serving, when moved counterclockwise, to close the fuel supply mechanism through a spring toggle mechanism.

In Fig. 8 the mechanism is shown as it has rotated the cam plate I 3| to closing position. For this purpose there is mounted on the sliding plate I26 a strip I33 pivoted on the plate by means of a pin I34 to slide with the plate and pressed against an adjustable pin I35 by means of a spring I36 which is fixed to the plateI 26 at one end and at its opposite end bears against a pin I31 on the strip I33. The pin I31 in turn bears against an inclined edge I33 of the cam plate I3! serving to rotate this plate counterclockwise toward the end of the upper movement of the plate I26 and strip I33.

The pin I35 is carried on an angled lever I39 extending outwardly beyond the base I64 and pivoted at I40 so that by shifting the lever I39 the pin I35 may be adjusted toward or from the plate I 26 through the arc of a slot I4! through which the pin I36 projects. I

In Fig. 8 the cam plate I3I is shown at the upper limit of its counterclockwise movement in which position it has swung the fuel valve con.- trol mechanism to closed position.

The valve operating mechanism comprises a pair of plates I44 and I45 confined between. a downwardly pointing end I 46 of the cam plate I3 I and an opposite upwardly pointing end I41 ofaright-angle lever I48 pivoted at I49 on the plate I06. The lever I48 has a longer arm .!50

1 extending to a position above the valve.stem..2;l

so as to close the valve when the lever swings counterclockwise, and release it when it swings clockwise.

The two plates I44I45 are movable toward and-away from each other under the influence of a coil spring I5I confined between the'plates, and are guided in their movements by telescoping guide stems I52 and I53. The positions of the elements of the assembly are such that as the cam plate I3I swings to its extreme clockwise or counterclockwise position the point I46 moves through alignment with the pivot I49 and the point I41, being in dead center with the spring i 15! at the point of alignment. And as it moves past this point the spring acts to push the point I41 in the opposite direction.

Having moved the lever I48 to the position shown in Fig. 8, the evaporating or heating cycle is terminated and the cooling cycle then begins. As the refrigerant cools the bellows I I3 contracts tilting the lever II6 counterclockwise and rewinding the clock. At the same time a mecha nismis set to tilt the cam plate I3I' in the op; posite direction to release the valve stem 2| at the end of the cooling cycle.

'This setting apparatus comprises a bar I54 pivoted by means of a pin I 55 on the lever H6 and depending therefrom. The depending por: tion of the bar I54 has a cam surface I56 hear.- ing against the pin I51 on the plate I06 and is yieldingly held in contact with the pin I51 by a coil spring I58 tensioned between the upper part of the bar I54 and a pin on the lever H6. jThe depending part of the bar I54 also carries a plate I 59 having a slot I60 through which passes a guide pin I6I on the bar and a securing screw I62 so that the plate I59 maybe adjusted I vertically relative to the bar. v The plate I59 also carries a roller I63 so po-1 sitioned that in the downward movement of the It will be apparent that when the lever I39 is adjusted to place the pin I35 in diiferent positions and thereby change the position of the strip I 33, the pin I3! on the latter willengage the edge I34 of theplate I3I earlier or later, as the case may be, in its upward movement.

The movement of the cam .plate I3I is limited by means of a pin I42 mounted on the plate I36 and extending through a slot I43 of the cam plate I3I. When the cam plate is swung counter clockwise to the limit of its movement further upward movement of the plate I 2.6 .will only serve leve I I6 and bar I54 the'roller contacts with and is deflected by an upper inclined edge I64 of the cam plate I3I,.thus swinging the bar I54 against the action of the spring I58 until the roller I63. has cleared the end of the inclined edge I64 and comes against a curved cam edge I65 against which it is pressed by the action of the spring, I 58.

The position of the plate I59 may be adjusted to engage the edges I 64 and I65 at a selected p0: sitionjofr-the lever II6. I 1 "The roller I 63 will remain against the cam edge I65 throughout the cooling cycle, but at the end of this cycle when the bellows II3 expands tilting the lever H6 and raising the bar I54'the roller I63 acting against the cam edge I65 will cause the cam plate I3I to rotate clockwise and throw the point I46 to the opposite sidev of the cycle begins may be controlled by adjusting the v plate I59 on the bar I54.

It will be evident that this modification may also be used to control either a liquid fuel valve or a gas valve.

What I claim is:

.1. Control mechanism for absorp ion refrigerators which comprises a fuel control valve, spring actuated means movab e cast dead c nterin one direction toclo e, and in the opposite direct on to release, said fuel valve, an exoansible thermal element to move said actuated means to valverelease position, a clock having a wind ng and unwinding shaft, a transmission from said shaft to said spring actuated means to move said spring actuating means to valve closing position as said shaft unwinds, and means released by the exdirection to close, and in the opposite direction to release, said fuel valve, an expansible thermal element to move said actuated means to valverelease position, a clock having a winding and unwinding shaft and a transmission from said shaft to said spring actuated means to move said spring actuated means to valve closing position, and a clock winding springtensioned by the expansion, and released by the contraction, of said expansible thermal element.

4. The control mechanism of claim 1 in which said spring actuated means comprises a valve actuating lever, a driving lever, said levers having opposed arms movable past a position of alignment and a spring tensioned between said arms,

5. Control mechanism for absorption refrigera tors which comprises a fuel control valve, a spring toggle movable to valve-opening and to valveclosing, positions, a clock having a winding and unwinding shaft, a-transmisson from said shaft I to said toggle to move said toggle to valve-closing position as said shaft unwinds and an expansible thermal element to move said toggle to valveopening position, and winding means released by the contraction of said expansible thermal element to wind said shaft.

6. The control mechanism of claim 5 in which said transmission comprises a thermal element responsive to atmospheric temperatures to engage said toggle at a variable point in theunwinding of said clock shaft.

'7. The control mechanism of claim 5 in which said transmission comprises a releasemechanism torelcase said toggle from said transmission when said toggle is in valve-opening position.

' 8. The control mechanism of claim 5 which comprises means actuated by said toggle in valveopening position to release said clock for staring.

9. The cont-rol mechanism of claim 5 in which means movable past dead center in one direction 12 to close and in the other direction to release said fuel valve.

10. A control mechanism for absorption refrigerators which comprises a clock having a winding arm, a winding plate engaged by said arm and pivoted to swing on a center spaced from that from said am, a sliding plate having a pivotal en gagement to said winding plate, a lever to engage and move said sliding plate to Winding posi'ion, a spring actuating said lever toward winding position, a thermal expansible bellows having a stem engaging said lever to move said lever against the action of said spring when said bellows expands, a fuel shut-off valve, a spring toggle to move said shut-ofi' valve to closed position and to release position, said spring toggle comprising a pair of levers having arms that swing past a position of alignment, and a spring between said arms ten sioned to be compressed when said arms are in position of alignment, one of said levers of said spring toggle acting to close or to release said valve, the other of said levers being actuated and moved by said expansible bellows, transmission from said clock mechanism to said spring toggle to move said toggle to closed position at a. point in the unwinding of said clock movement and means actuated by said valve actuating lever to release said clock for starting.

11. The control mechanism of claim 10 in which said transmission from said clock mechanism to said valve cl sing lever comprises a bimetallic strip on one element and a notched plate on the other to be engaged by said bimetallic plate in difi'erent positions of said transmission.

12. A control mechanism for absorption refrigerators which comprises a clock, an expansible bellows, a spring t wind said clock, means actuated by the expansion of said bellows to tension said spring, a fuel shut-oil valve, a fuel control means tiltable past a dead center in one direction to close and in the other to release said fuel shut-off valve, an actuating lever to tilt said fuel control lever past dead center, and positioned to be tilted to fuel closing position by said clock and to fuel release position by said bellows.

13. The mechan sm of claim 11 comprising a lever ac uated by said bellows and a leaf spring on said actuating lever in the path of said bellows actuated e er through a limited part of the swin of said lever.

14. The mechanism of claim 12 comprising a tilting arm Weighted to stop said clock and positioned to be moved by said fuel control means to clock release position when in fuel valve release position.

15. Control mechanism for absorption refrigerators which comprises a clock mechanism having a winding and unwinding shaft rotatable through a limited arc, an expansible thermal element, means actuated upon the contraction of sa d expansible thermal element to wind said shaft and upon expansion of said expansible thermal element to release said shalt, a fuel control valve and a transmission between said valve and said expansible thermal element to open said valve upon expansion of said element and between said valve and said shaft to be engaged and. to

close said valve upon unwinding of said shaft.

16. The control mechanism of claim 15' 'in which said transmission comprises an engaging elem nt movable to adjust the point of engagement and of the closing of said valve.

17. The control mechanism of claim 15 in which said transmission comprises a driving,

member moved by said shaft and a driven mem her positioned to be engaged by said driving member at a set point in the movement of said drivi member and moved to close said valve.

18. The control mechanism of claim 15 in which said transmission comprises a driving member moved by said shaft, a driven member having a surface to be engaged by said driving member and a stop on said driving member to engage said surface of said driven member, said stop being movable to adjust the position of engagement between said driving member and said driven member and said driven member being actuated to close said valve when moved by the unwinding of said clock.

19. The control mechanism of claim 18 in which the adjusting movement of said stop is thermally actuated.

20. Control mechanism for absorption refrigerators which comprises a clock mechanism having a winding and unwinding shaft rotatable through a limited arc, an expansible thermal element, a spring to wind said shaft and tensiond by the expansion of said expansible thermal element to permit the unwinding of said shaft and 14 said expansible thermal element to open said valve upon expansion of said element and between said valve and said shaft to be engaged and close said shaft upon unwinding of said shaft,

21. The control mechanism of claim 20 in which said transmission comprises a tiltable and sliding element driven by said winding and unwinding shaft, a driven element positioned to be engaged by said sliding element to open and close said valve, and means to tilt said sliding element relative to said driven element to adjust the position of engagement therewith.

JACQUES G. MEJEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

